Guide
How to tell if a gold buyer is legit
Six checks, from the strongest to the simplest. None of them proves a shop will treat you fairly, but together they are what a careful seller does. Pick your state for the official links.
Check the dealer licence
Many states license pawnbrokers and gold buyers. A real shop can tell you its licence number.
Check the business is registered
The state business registry shows whether the company exists, whether it is active, and when it started.
Look for complaints
Your state consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau record complaints and how they were handled.
Check membership claims at the source
If a shop claims ANA, PNG or NGC membership, look it up in that association’s own directory.
At the counter
Look for an inspection sticker on the scale, watch it weigh your item, ask about fees, and get the offer in writing.
Read what other sellers say
Seller reports show what a shop actually paid. Verified reports were backed by a receipt.
Official links for your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Coloradolive check
- Connecticutlive check
- Delawarelive check
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New Yorklive check
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahomalive check
- Oregonlive check
- Pennsylvanialive check
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texaslive check
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
“Live check” means we can search that state’s official records for you on the Check a dealer page.